When USC plays at Arizona State on Saturday, it will be the Trojans’ first game in a hostile atmosphere, unless you count the angry fans at the Coliseum the previous two games.

That fact was not lost on the Trojans. When a reporter joked to USC wide receiver Marqise Lee that USC would hear less boos at Sun Devil Stadium, Lee joked back, “True.”

Quarterback Cody Kessler attempted to silence the crowd near the end of the first half in Saturday’s 17-14 victory over Utah State, one of the rare times a USC player wanted his own fans to stop heckling.

“Everyone can’t expect it to be perfect,” Kessler said. “It’s exciting to see where we’ll be in a few weeks after playing on the road.”

Lee said he doesn’t mind USC fans booing during games.

“That’s the crowd,” he said.

Said tailback Tre Madden: “They want to see us execute on every possession.”

Linebacker Hayes Pullard said he remembered the crowd the last time USC played at Arizona State in 2011.

“It was an electrifying atmosphere,” Pullard said. “They were ready to play.”

Arizona State defeated USC, 43-22.

Up-tempo pressure

USC coach Lane Kiffin said the Trojans could not play an up-tempo offense because of defensive depth issues. The defense would need to be on the field longer with shorter possessions and require more players.

But Arizona State will pose a similar challenge with its own fast-paced offense.

Ready for Sutton?

Kiffin lamented the return of Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton, last year’s Pacific-12 Conference defensive player of the year.

“He decided to come back for some reason,” Kiffin said. “He has just has taken over games at times on the road and at home.”

Albarado honored

USC punter Kris Albarado was named Pac-12 special teams player of the week.

Albarado had five punts land inside the Trojans’ 15-yard line against Utah State.

Upon further view

One of the bigger plays of the USC-Utah State game was a 31-yard pass completion by the Aggies that was brought back when the line judge said an ineligible receiver was downfield. Mike Pereira, who has assisted the Pac-12 and is considered a rules expert, wrote Monday the call was incorrect.

That meant Utah State was denied having the ball on the Trojans’ 38-yard line with the score tied, 7-7.

“These types of mistakes can’t happen,” Pereira wrote in a column for Fox Sports. “That’s not even a judgment call. That’s a lapse of concentration.”

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